Ludicolo(ルンパッパ) is the 21st Pokémon in the Hoenn Pokédex. It is a Water/Grass Type, and is classified as the Carefree Pokémon.

Ludicolo can have one of three abilities overall, two of which-both of its regular Abilities-involve rain: Swift Swim, which doubles its Speed when it is raining, but not on the same turn in which the weather becomes rain; or Rain Dish, which recovers 1/16 of its maximum Hit Points at the end of each turn that it is raining. Lombre's Dream World ability does not involve the rain, however. Its Dream World Ability is Own Tempo, preventing it from becoming confused from moves that confuse directly such as Confuse Ray or Teeter Dance, or as a side-effect of an attack such as Psybeam or Dizzy Punch.

Lotad can evolve into Lombre once it reaches Level 14. It can then evolve into a Ludicolo when a Water Stone is used on it.

Ludicolo is in the Egg Groups Water 1 and Grass, and its Egg takes approximately 3,840 Steps to hatch. It takes Ludicolo 1,059,860 Experience Points to reach Level 100.

Biology

Physiology

Ludicolo takes the appearance of an aquatic plantform with two ziz-zag patterns on its body. The lillypad that has been in its head since it was a Lotad has grown into a much larger size at this point, and also includes a large seed at its center.

Gender Differences

The zig-zag patterns on a Male Ludicolo are thicker than the same patterns on a Female.

Trading Card Game

Ludicolo appears in six sets and a Nintendo Promo. It is listed as a Rare Card in the EX Sandstorm, EX Deoxys (2), EX Crystal Guardians (Delta Species), Secret Wonders and Platinum sets.

Anime/Manga Information

Anime

A trainer named Poncho used a Ludicolo in battle against Ash's Corphish in the episode Go Go Ludicolo!, its first appearance in the Anime.

The majority of Ludicolo's appearances belong to Brock's Ludicolo. It evolved from a Lombre in the episode Once In A Mawile because Lombre had been smitten with a Mawile, only to get shot down in the end. Ludicolo like to dance, and Brock's Ludicolo is no exception: it'll dance on a whim.

Movies

A Wild Ludicolo appears in the Pikachu Short Gotta Dance, the lone film appearance by a Ludicolo.

Manga

Ludicolo's Manga Information is unknown as of writing.

Pokémon Information

Competitive Battling

Ludicolo is a part of the Neverused (NU) tier of competitive battling. With the ability Swift Swim giving it doubled Speed under rain, Ludicolo is a great Rain Dance sweeper. It can sweep through frailer offensive teams and do some significant damage with rain boosted Hydro Pumps. With a great secondary STAB in Giga Drain, it can hit bulky Water-types like Poliwrath and Lanturn. Its good special bulk and decent defensive typing allow for it to act as a soft check to certain threats like Steelix and Samurott lacking Megahorn, allowing for it to do some significant damage. While Ludicolo is very fast under rain, it is not without the beneficial weather conditions, sitting in a bad Speed tier where a lot of Pokémon can threaten it. It also can struggle to set up rain against more offensively inclined teams and struggles against Pokémon like Mantine, Ferroseed, and Abomasnow, with the latter being able to cancel rain with Snow Warning.

Ludicolo is also a viable option in the Rarelyused (RU) tier of competitive battling. It can find a niche as a rain sweeper alongside the likes of Kabutops and Omastar thanks to its ability Swift Swim. With great STAB coverage in Hydro Pump and Giga Drain as well as Ice Beam to hit Grass-types, Ludicolo has very well-rounded coverage can be difficult to stop once it gets going. However, Ludicolo is hindered by status ailments, as burn, paralysis, and poison can all prove to be highly detrimental in its ability to sweep or stay on the field. It also cannot take certain priority attacks too well like Fletchinder's Gale WingsAcrobatics. Even with a Swift Swim boost, some Choice Scarf users like Flygon can outspeed it since it runs a Modest nature and smack it with a powerful attack.